EAST ANGLIAN COUNTIES LEAGUE – U18 ESSEX 2 V 1 SUFFOLK
HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS FC - THURSDAY 19th March 2009
Fine display by young teams
Both Counties fielded young sides for this important fixture, and they served up an entertaining match full of good individual displays, while perhaps lacking a little in cohesive team play. The teams were locked at the top of the league, with both still to play Norfolk – and all 3 counties in with a chance of the title. The first opportunity fell to the home team, when Scarlett latched onto a high clearance, held off the challenge from Hardwick, only to fire over the bar from 15 yards. Suffolk picked up the gauntlet, and Kempson made ground down the left, but he failed to pick out a team-mate with his low angled cross. An Seaman free-kick was driven low into the box, but no team-mate could convert it into an attempt on goal. Essex took the lead in the 16th minute, when Hunter got in front of the defence to meet a cross from Moore to glance a header out of reach of Rhodes. 4 minutes later a let-off for Suffolk as Scarlett took a pass from Moore, and his snap-shot glanced off the top of the bar. Suffolk came close soon after this, but Hutching could only hit the side-netting after good work in the box by Nurse. Essex keeper Muhammad then charged out of goal to clear an attack, but Nurse charged down the clearance, and the ball shot high in the air. As it came down, it was met by Hutching who headed towards goal, only to find Muhammad had recovered his ground and scrambled the ball off the line. This was entertaining football, played at speed, and Rhodes did well to save a low shot from Brown. Towards half-time, Suffolk pressed for the equaliser, but Essex broke, and Rhodes had to come out to challenge the dangerous Brown in the air. Brown got the better of him, and headed towards the empty net. But somehow Suffolk’s Elliott Hunter got back to head behind for a corner.
The second half started with 2 goals in the first 10 minutes. Suffolk equalised, after interplay between Nurse and Hutching seemed to have ended when the ball was lost, but Clark pressed Branson into a slip, took the ball from him and drove into the box before shooting across the keeper into the far corner. Essex, however, went back in front within 2 minutes when Hunter produced a great individual goal, with an explosive turn and half volley which fired the ball into the net off the underside of the bar. After this Essex never looked back, and although they did not increase their lead, they played with more confidence and were able to string passes together with pace and accuracy. A fine diving header by Moore from an in-swinging corner came close, as Rhodes found himself blocked in. A break by the visitors should have produced something, as a free-kick by Seaman was met by Johnson whose shot was cleared off the line for a corner. The keeper came out to meet the corner, and appeared to flatten Nurse, but only another corner was given. Suffolk finished strongly, and Marsh was foiled by the keeper after pressure had opened up a gap in the home defence. Overall, Essex deserved their win, with the threat from Hunter being the difference between the teams. With only 2 fixtures left in the championship, any 1 of 3 teams could still win, but this victory puts Essex in pole position.